Blockchain Builders: A New Venture in Blockchain Investment
On May 29, 2025, California saw the launch of a promising venture fund focused on the burgeoning blockchain industry, spearheaded by a trio of Stanford University graduate students: Gil Rosen, Kun Peng, and Steven Willinger. This fund, aptly named Blockchain Builders, concentrates its resources on pre-seed and seed-stage investments, primarily targeting innovators hailing from top academic institutions. With an impressive deployment of over $16 million across 40 different blockchain initiatives, the fund’s portfolio includes a range of fields such as artificial intelligence, decentralized finance, payments, and more.
Investment Strategy and Notable Portfolio Companies
The fund is designed to operate over an eight-year horizon, and is on pace to utilize its remaining capital by the end of the current year, with numerous projects preparing to undertake token generation events (TGEs). Among the prominent companies in their portfolio are:
- 0G, a modular AI blockchain supported by investors like Hack VC and Bankless;
- Nexus Labs, a cutting-edge supercomputer venture backed by major funding from Lightspeed and Pantera;
- Hyperbolic, a cloud platform focused on open-access AI;
- Pod, a novel Layer-1 blockchain, which has garnered interest from Andreessen Horowitz and other significant players.
Connection to Stanford and Quotes from Founders
In an interview, Co-Founder Kun Peng highlighted the fund’s connection to Stanford’s rich blockchain ecosystem. He noted the efforts they have made through initiatives such as the Stanford Blockchain Accelerator and the educational course MS&E 447, which covers Blockchain Entrepreneurship. The team has nurtured over 200 founders and engaged 400 students through their programs, amassing nearly 5,000 total attendees at the Blockchain Application Stanford Summit series.
“Our close ties to Stanford allow us early access to ambitious founders who appreciate our collaborative methodology. We actively engage with them to refine strategies and prepare for key fundraising phases, ensuring they are well-positioned for subsequent funding from leading investors.”
– Gil Rosen
Professor David Tse, founder of Babylon and an integral figure in Stanford’s blockchain research, emphasized the university’s long-standing commitment to blockchain innovation via its various labs and courses, including his own EE 374. He credited their efforts in fostering a vibrant startup community focused on blockchain technology.
The Leadership Team’s Background
The leadership team of Blockchain Builders boasts extensive backgrounds in both traditional finance and the digital currency sector. Willinger’s past includes directing Coinbase Ventures and working with firms like Capital One and Blockstream. Rosen, a notable angel investor, has built a successful business in distributed computing for entities such as the IRS and the London Stock Exchange before selling to AI platform NGData. Peng’s background spans various web3 projects, covering analytics and decentralized finance.
Future Plans and Vision
Looking forward, Blockchain Builders is not just stopping at Stanford; they aim to extend their reach to other institutions via the IC3-Cornell accelerator, which encompasses a range of prestigious universities including Princeton and Yale. They are also committed to hosting innovative events in collaboration with industry leaders like the Ethereum Foundation and Solana, effectively broadening their mission to support blockchain entrepreneurs nationwide.
In essence, Blockchain Builders is more than just a financial capital source. The fund is a vital participant in the growth of the blockchain ecosystem, offering experiential support tailored to emerging founders, all while fostering a new generation of technology leaders in blockchain.
